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| Leicester 'cannabis mum' jailed over fatal crash | Leicester 'cannabis mum' jailed over fatal crash |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A mother who smoked cannabis before killing her daughter and her son's girlfriend in a car crash has been jailed. | A mother who smoked cannabis before killing her daughter and her son's girlfriend in a car crash has been jailed. |
| Anastasia James, 37, smoked the drug before the crash on the M1 in Leicestershire in January 2014. | Anastasia James, 37, smoked the drug before the crash on the M1 in Leicestershire in January 2014. |
| Her daughter, Destiny James-Keeling, 14, and Megan Marchant, 18, died when the car left the road and hit a tree. | Her daughter, Destiny James-Keeling, 14, and Megan Marchant, 18, died when the car left the road and hit a tree. |
| James, from Braunstone, was given a two-year sentence for each life lost, to run concurrently. | James, from Braunstone, was given a two-year sentence for each life lost, to run concurrently. |
| Updates on this story and more from Leicestershire | Updates on this story and more from Leicestershire |
| She was convicted by a jury of two counts of causing death by careless driving when unfit through drugs. | She was convicted by a jury of two counts of causing death by careless driving when unfit through drugs. |
| The court heard she had been at a child's birthday party in Islington, north London, before she took the "unforgivable" decision to smoke cannabis - which she did either before setting off or during the journey back to Leicester. | The court heard she had been at a child's birthday party in Islington, north London, before she took the "unforgivable" decision to smoke cannabis - which she did either before setting off or during the journey back to Leicester. |
| Forensic scientist David Berry told the jury traces of cannabis found in James's blood would have probably "impaired" the motorist. | Forensic scientist David Berry told the jury traces of cannabis found in James's blood would have probably "impaired" the motorist. |
| James - who had stitches for a head wound after the crash - had denied smoking anything on the day of the collision and blamed her car. | James - who had stitches for a head wound after the crash - had denied smoking anything on the day of the collision and blamed her car. |
| 'Determined to avoid responsibility' | 'Determined to avoid responsibility' |
| Megan's mother Vicki Marchant said in a victim impact statement, read out at Leicester Crown Court: "Megan was a unique young lady who should have had many years ahead of her. | Megan's mother Vicki Marchant said in a victim impact statement, read out at Leicester Crown Court: "Megan was a unique young lady who should have had many years ahead of her. |
| "She had dreams and ambitions to fulfil, but sadly she will not be able to do this, through no fault of her own. | "She had dreams and ambitions to fulfil, but sadly she will not be able to do this, through no fault of her own. |
| "We have been given a life sentence of grief, torture, and longing for our Megan to walk through the door and be home with us again." | "We have been given a life sentence of grief, torture, and longing for our Megan to walk through the door and be home with us again." |
| Recorder Paul Mann QC, sentencing James, said: "I want to believe that deep down there is remorse. You have certainly done your best to hide it during the trial. | Recorder Paul Mann QC, sentencing James, said: "I want to believe that deep down there is remorse. You have certainly done your best to hide it during the trial. |
| "I saw a hardened determination to avoid your responsibility." | "I saw a hardened determination to avoid your responsibility." |
| James's son, Wade James-Keeling, is now the guardian of her one-year-old daughter. |